Conn. union local to end contract with Stop & Shop

HARTFORD, Conn. 
Stop & Shop and the union representing about 40,000 supermarket workers in southern New England are back at the negotiating table, but Connecticut workers say they will soon end the current contract, allowing a strike.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 371 says it will end its contract at 3 p.m. Thursday to force the company to improve its final proposals or face a strike. The Connecticut local represents 12,000 employees. Other locals represent workers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The company says it will be free to hire temporary workers if employees strike.

Both sides say they resumed negotiations Thursday morning after extending a deadline that expired last month.